Core Leadership Values

Values are the guiding principles in our lives.  Leadership occurs within the
context of core values.  Leaders guide and facilitate others to make a
positive difference in their own lives and to contribute to a larger good. 
Values inform the application of leadership qualities as the competencies of
leadership are activated – learned, developed, and practiced – within the
set of core values.  By focusing on what people believe and value, and then
positively building on this understanding, we have the potential for impact
far more wide reaching than if we approached leadership development as a
problem-solving activity.

1.     Respect

as demonstrated by self respect and respecting others regardless of

differences; treating others with dignity, empathy and compassion; and the
ability to earn the respect of others.

2.     Making a Difference

as demonstrated by personal efforts that lead to making a positive impact

on individuals, systems, and/or organizations or positively affecting
outcomes.

3.     Integrity

as demonstrated by moral courage, ethical strength, and trustworthiness;

keeping promises and fulfilling expectations.

4.     Authenticity

as demonstrated by consistency, congruency, and transparency in values,

beliefs, and actions; integrating values and principles to create a purposeful
life and to contribute to the growth of others.

5.     Courage
as demonstrated by possessing a strength of self to act with intention on
behalf of the common good; taking a stand in the face of adversity; acting
boldly in the service of inclusion and justice.

6.     Service

as demonstrated by commitment that extends beyond one’s own self

interest; personal humility for the sake of a greater cause.

7.     Humility

as demonstrated by a sense of humbleness, dignity and an awareness of

one’s own limitations; open to perspectives different from one’s own.

8.     Wisdom

as demonstrated by a broad understanding of human dynamics and an

ability to balance the interests of multiple stakeholders when making
decisions; can take a long term perspective in decision-making.
Core Values of a Great Leader
February 23, 2021
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By: Indeed Editorial Team

When you are trying to become a better leader, it is important to identify and improve
your core leadership values. Understanding what leadership values are and what core
leadership values you want to adopt into your leadership style can help you improve
your relationship and connection with your team, thus becoming a more effective leader.

In this article, we discuss everything you need to know about the core values of a great
leader with a list of core leadership values.

What are leadership values?

Leadership values are the core beliefs and principles that guide us in our personal and
professional lives. Your values can be defined as the things you believe are most
important to achieving your goals and being happy. Leadership values are closely
connected to both your personal core values and the values of your company.

Related: Core Values: Overview and Examples

Why are leadership values important?

Leadership values are important because they help you determine how you want to
achieve your goals and what type of leader you want to be. Your core leadership values
play an important role in guiding how you make decisions and what actions you take on
a daily basis. Leadership values also help you grow and develop both personally and
professionally. Having a strong set of core values as a leader helps build respect and
trust among your team. This creates the foundation for you to influence your team in a
positive way that encourages high-performance and excellence.

Related: Guide to Company Culture

List of leadership values

Here is a list of core leadership values:

 Influence
 Vision
  Honesty
 Passion
 Integrity
 Dedication
 Empathy
 Personal development
 Service
 Respect
 Resilience
 Adaptability
 Authenticity

Influence

Influence refers to the ability to encourage, motivate and guide others to think or act in a
specific way to achieve certain goals. Influence is a defining characteristic of leadership
because it means having the ability to empower others into choosing certain actions and
beliefs rather than forcing them into those actions and beliefs through
micromanagement.

Read more: How to Have Influence in the Workplace

Vision

Vision refers to knowing what your goals and objectives are and having a clear plan for
achieving those goals. Vision is an important core value to every leader because they
need to be able to effectively communicate to their team what the company's goals are
and why they are important.

Read more: Your Guide to Visionary Leadership

Honesty

One value that is critical in making you a trustworthy leader is honesty. Honesty refers
to the ability to discuss topics with others in a clear and truthful manner. Transparency
is closely related to honesty. When others know they can rely on the things you say and
promise, it builds their trust and respect in you and makes you a more effective leader.

Passion

Passion is the feeling of fulfillment and motivation that drives you to continue to work to
achieve your goals even when you face challenges or unexpected setbacks. When
leaders are genuinely passionate about the work they do, this passion is seen by their
team members. This creates a culture where your team members feel inspired to also
become passionate about their work, which results in greater productivity throughout the
company.
Read more: How to Find Your Passion

Integrity

Integrity refers to being genuine and honest and deciding to do the right thing at all
times. A strong sense of integrity is important in leadership because your team
members need to know they can trust and respect what you say and what you do. They
also need to know they can count on you to keep your promises.

Read more: Integrity: Definition and Examples

Dedication

Dedication is a commitment to a specific task, principle or goal. Strong leaders have a

high level of dedication to their company, team and the work they do. They show this
dedication by following through on promises and pushing through challenges to achieve
their goals. This high level of dedication motivates others to show the same level of
commitment to their work.

Empathy

Empathy refers to the ability to understand the feelings and emotions of others and to
respond to their actions and behaviors in a way that shows your understanding of their
feelings. Empathy is a core component of emotional intelligence, which also includes
the ability to understand and control your personal feelings and emotions. It is important
for leaders to have emotional intelligence because it helps you build genuine
connections with your team. Having a strong connection with your team members
allows you to help them overcome their personal and professional challenges and
results in improved efficiency and productivity.

Read more: Emotional Intelligence: Definition and Examples

Personal development

Personal development refers to the act of continued learning, education and personal
growth. Great leaders are dedicated to continued personal development because they
know there is always something new they can learn or something they can improve
upon. By showing your team your commitment to your own personal development, you
can motivate them to take action to work on their personal development as well.

Service

Service refers to the act of doing something to help someone else. Great leadership is
an act of service, it encourages and motivates others to perform their best work and
achieve their personal goals. Servant leaders put the needs of others before
themselves. By serving the needs of your team first, you can build a loyal team while
also encouraging them to serve the needs of others and the organization.

Respect

Respect refers to feelings of admiration for their qualities, abilities or achievements and
to regard the rights, wishes and feelings of others. Good leaders earn the respect of
others rather than simply expecting to receive respect because of their position or title.
One of the best ways to earn respect is to show them respect. Another way to earn
respect from others is to show commitment to your work and to serving others.

Resilience

Resilience is the ability to face adversity and quickly recover from setbacks, challenges
and obstacles that you encounter. It is important for leaders to be resilient because they
face several challenges and obstacles in achieving their goals. Building resilience can
help you effectively address challenges or issues when they occur and lead to improved
efficiency and productivity.

Adaptability

Adaptability means being prepared to accept and respond to change when it occurs.
Adaptability is crucial in the workplace because it is often a frequently changing
environment. Leaders need to have the ability to welcome and adopt change and
motivate their team members to do the same.

Authenticity

Authenticity refers to being genuine and honest in what you say and do. Leaders can
show their authenticity by continuing to develop and live by their core values on a daily
basis. It is important for leaders to be authentic in their work because it creates an
environment where your team members feel empowered to be authentic as well. This
makes your team members more comfortable contributing new and innovative ideas
and encourages an environment where everyone works together to achieve their goals.